During childbirth the mother is highly attuned to her environment. Lights, noise, smells, and temperature all play a role in whether a mother is able to feel comfortable and safe during the birthing process. When a mother feels comfortable, she is more easily able to enter into her “birthing zone,” and therefore have a positive and empowering birth experience.

Aromatherapy can be a wonderful asset in creating a peaceful birthing environment. Having essential oils on hand during childbirth is not only beneficial for their aromatic purposes, but can bring comfort through topical application, and in some cases, through ingestion as well.

As a doula and an essential oil educator, many women have asked for my suggestion on which oils to bring to birth. There are many essential oils to choose from. However, below I will share the top 5 essential oils to have on hand during childbirth, including how you can best use them. Though you may not use all of them, it’s a good idea to have a few good oils in your birthing arsenal.

Essential oils offer many benefits during childbirth. But, not all oils are created equal.

As mentioned earlier, a birthing mother does have heightened senses. Therefore some scents, even from essential oils, may be off-putting or overpowering to her during the birthing process. Throughout the stages of labor the mother’s needs will change as well. Which is another reason why it’s a good idea to have a slight variety of oils available.

In selecting essential oils, it’s important to consider the type of oils that will bring comfort to the mother. However, it’s even more important to be mindful of the quality of essential oil being used. An oil that is low quality won’t offer adequate therapeutic benefits, and often times can bring about adverse effects. Quality and purity is highly important when selecting essential oils. Whenever I suggest essential oils and offer tips on using oils, I am always referring to Young Living Essential Oils.

Top 5 essential oils for birth:

1. Frankincense – known to “treat every conceivable ill known to man.” Therefore this oil offers numerous healing properties. During birth, I appreciate the emotional and spiritual benefits of frankincense. It increases spiritual awareness, oxygenates the brain, improves attitude and uplifts the spirit. I love diffusing frankincense during labor (along with lavender) for a lovely, calming aroma. Frankincense is also known as the “holy anointing oil.” In which, mothers may choose to anoint their baby immediately after birth for spiritual and physical protection.
2. Valor – one of my all-time favorite oil blends. This oil helps balance the body’s energies while promoting feelings of courage and confidence. I suggest rubbing a drop on the bottom of the mother’s feet during labor. (I’ve seen first-hand the amazing benefits of applying this oil to a birthing mother!)
3. Peppermint – very energizing and stimulating. If the mother is running low on energy, or has feelings of nausea, this is a great aroma to breathe in directly from the bottle. Peppermint can also be diluted with a carrier oil and applied topically, to ease muscle tension.
4. Lavender – one of the best oils to always have on hand. Lavender is known for it’s calming properties. The use of this oil during labor may vary. I especially enjoy diffusing lavender along with frankincense, and feel it is a beautiful addition in creating a soothing atmosphere. You may wish to add it to carrier oil and apply topically for a soothing massage during the laboring process. For after birth, combine this oil along with geranium and carrier oil, and massage over the lower abdomen to support contractions – which helps with uterine tone and placenta expulsion.
5. Geranium – as mentioned, this is a great oil to encourage contractions post-birth. Geranium helps balance hormones, soothes cramps, and helps stop bleeding.

Follow your intuition.

I hope through reading this you were able to gain some insight on which oils may be helpful during birth. Though the oils mentioned are ones that I highly suggest, as with anything, be sure to listen to your body and follow your intuition. You may be called to use a different variety of oils which will support your body beautifully. Essential oils can greatly enhance all areas of our life. They are truly a pocket of endless possibilities. It’s up to you how you will choose to incorporate them.

Blessings…and happy birthing!